I still own nothing! Except Lillian, she's mine.

Chapter Five

Albert let himself into his tiny apartment and tossed his briefcase on his bed. After kicking off his shoes, he sat down, dropping his head in his hands.

"I can't believe I just did that. I cannot believe I just did that."

He had just gone and kissed another woman. Someone he had just met that day! Albert sat up slightly and rested his forehead on his clasped hands.

"But she kissed me first...why did she kiss me?" Albert muttered. He got to his feet, pacing, fitfully running a hand through his hair.

"God, why did I have to kiss her back? I guess I didn't want her to think...I don't know. Didn't want her to think she had made a mistake, that I wouldn't speak to her anymore..."

Albert sighed and sat down again. He pulled out his wallet, and his tired eyes fell on Rose's smiling face.

"I wish you hadn't left, Rosie. Everything would have been so much simpler if you had stayed..." he murmured. "We could still…"

Albert dropped his head into his hands again, letting the wallet fall to the floor.

"Rose left," he said quietly. "She left you, she's gone. There's no reason you can't... I mean, if she had really cared..."

She's not coming back. If you want to move on and find someone else, no one will stop you...


The bell rang just as the last student placed her reading quiz on Albert's desk. There was a burst of movement as students hurried out the door, some slowing to say goodbye to Albert, others already rushing to get home.

Albert took his time packing the students' quizzes into his briefcase, wanting to delay as much as possible. Much to Albert's relief, the halls were practically empty of students by the time he made his way up to the second floor where the math classes were taught.

He stepped into the doorway of an almost empty classroom at the end of the hall and rapped his knuckles on the open door. Lillian Wilson looked up from her desk and smiled when she saw Albert.

"Hey you," she said, waving him over. Albert allowed himself a small smile as he walked over to kiss her cheek.

"Hi."

Lillian raised an eyebrow and gave Albert a grin.

"Does this mean you were all right with me kissing you on Friday?"

"I kissed you back, didn't I?" Albert said, surprised the words slipped out of him so easily.

Lillian smirked and got to her feet. Not taking her eyes off Albert, she took his briefcase out of his hand and placed it on her desk. She grabbed his tie in one hand (Albert's eyes went wide), stepped closer, and slowly, firmly placed her lips on Albert's. Lillian pulled away after a long moment, still with a firm grip on Albert's tie.

"I'm sorry for panicking the other day," she said breathily. "I didn't want you to think I was being too forward." She kissed him again, deeper this time.

"After all, we just met." Another kiss. "And we are working together."

While all this was happening, Albert slowly came to the realization that he had his hands on Lillian's hips. Hesitantly, he pulled her even closer. Lillian grinned.

"Not a problem," Albert said. Lillian cocked her head to the side.

"What isn't a problem?" Albert swallowed. Another hazy thought slowly reached his mind. I am in way over my head. He pushed the thought aside.

"Any of it. It's not a problem." Lillian laughed.

"Come here," she murmured. And with another tug of his tie, she was kissing Albert again. And he kissed her back.

Lillian finally pulled away to take a breath, and Albert took advantage of the opportunity to ask what had been on his mind all weekend.

"Lillian, would you like to go to dinner with me?

Her expression softened, and a small smile appeared on her face.

"Yeah, I'd like that. I'm not free tonight, would tomorrow work?"

Albert smiled. "Of course. I'll see you Tuesday, then."


"Rosalia, how is Alejandro holding up?"

Rose sighed. Another night of gossip in the back room of Madam Lucia's.

"Oh, he'll be back on his feet in a few days," Rosalia said with a wave of her hand.

"And then he can go teach those Jets a lesson!" Teresita added.

"Who are the Jets?" Rose asked. The girls grew silent for a moment.

"I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, Anita!" Teresita laughed.

"Callate," Rosalia snapped. She turned to Rose. "It's the gang the Americans are in."

"Gang? Like street fighting?" The other girls turned to look at each other.

"You really don't know anything, do you Anita," Francisca sighed.

"You'd think she'd know all about the gangs, since her boyfriend is the leader of one," Teresita mumbled.

"Anita!" Maria cried. "You are dating 'Nardo and you did not tell me?"

Rose blushed. "I am. It's...recent, I meant to tell you..."

Maria beamed at Rose. "Well, I think you two will make a charming couple."

"Thanks, Maria," Rose laughed. "But what's this about Bernardo being in a gang?"

"All the boys are," Maria shrugged. "It's what the Americans do, and they are in America now."

"Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks," Teresita added. "That's our gang."

"But they don't ...fight each other, do they?"

"Of course they do," Rosalia said. "That's how Alejandro got hurt."

"Well what happened to him?" Rose asked.

"One of those Jet bastards got him in the belly with a knife. But it wasn't very deep; he'll be fine."

"Oh my god...do they fight very often?"

"Any time they see each other on the street they'll fight. But the rumbles don't happen very often," Francisca said.

"...rumbles?" asked Rose.

"Big, organized fights with the whole gang," Teresita explained. "All of their guys against every one of us."

"Oh." Rose fell silent after that, wondering what sort of a man she had just started dating.

He came into the shop around closing time, like he always did. The only difference was now he always kissed Rose hello.

"Hello, Anita."

"Bernardo." Rose gave him a small smile. "There's something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Mmm? And what's that, Anita?"

"Are you really in a gang?"

"Sí, all the boys are. After all, we are in America now!"

Rose crossed her arms. "That's what the girls said. But why?"

Bernardo frowned. He put a hand on Rose's shoulder and took her chin in his other hand.

"To protect you and my sister and everyone else from those American boys. I don't trust them and neither should you, Anita."

"But-"

"I'm trying to keep you safe, Anita. That is all. These streets are dangerous; I want to make sure you and Maria aren't the ones getting hurt." Rose sighed.

"All right." That got Bernardo smiling again.

"Now I have something I would like to talk to you about, Anita."

"Oh? What?"

"There's a dance at the gym tomorrow night. I want you to go with me."

"A...dance?" Rose said hesitantly, her hands falling to her side. "Bernardo, I don't really dance, I mean...I haven't danced in forever, not in years."

Bernardo took both her hands in his.

"Anita, I'm sure you are a natural! It will be fun, I promise."

"I...all right." Bernardo beamed and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll meet you at nine, then." He held out his arm. "May I walk you home, señorita?"

"Oh, I'm not quite done closing up yet-"

"I'll help!"

Rose turned to see Maria coming out of the back room.

"Maria! I thought you had already left," Rose said.

"I was dawdling. You go on home 'Nardo, we'll be all right by ourselves."

Bernardo smiled fondly at his little sister and kissed her cheek.

"Buenas noches, Maria." He kissed Rose too. "Buenas noches, Anita."

"Goodbye!" Maria called. The door closed and he was gone.

"Maria," Rose said, "it's nice of you to help, but-"

"Oh, that's not why I'm here," Maria interrupted. "I wanted to help you pick a dress for tomorrow night!" Rose gave her a look.

"You heard about that, huh?" Maria tried to look embarrassed and failed.

"C'mon, Antonella won't mind if we borrow something." With that, she took Rose's hand and pulled her into the back room.

"Let's see, it has to be something with a nice big skirt, and of course the neckline can't be too low, after all you and 'Nardo only just started dating! But it has to be very pretty, I'm sure my brother will want to show you off to all the Sharks..."

Rose looked on smiling as Maria scoured the racks of dresses looking for something suitable for dancing.

"Ay, look at this one, Anita!" Maria pulled a pink dress from the racks and held it up. "It's perfect! It may even be your size."

Rose rolled her eyes and took the dress from Maria, holding it up in front of a mirror.

"It is a lovely dress," she murmured. Rose laughed and shook her head. "But I can't remember the last time I went dancing!"

"It'll be fun!" Maria insisted. "My brother is a very good dancer; he used to dance with me all the time when we were little. I wish I could go," she sighed.

"Why can't you?" Rose asked, finally taking her eyes off the dress. Maria shrugged.

"No one to take me. You'll have to dance enough for both of us!"

Rose laughed and turned back to her reflection.

"I will."

Review please!